Game of skill



May19,1931. Y .MAASS. j l 1,806,071

GAME o F SKILLv k:Fied sept. 22, 192s l ZO IN VEN TOR,

L OU/S M14/)55 j f5 ATTORNEY.

Patented May 19, 1931 {PATE-N LOUIS MAASS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT YGAME or SKILL Application filed September 22, 1928. Serial No. 307,733.

This invention relates to games in which, for amusement, entertainmentor pastime, the players mental and physical faculties are exercised. Around obj ect is deposited inv my machine and by the operation of theplayer it runs along an edge. Below this edge are various compartmentsand it depends upon the skill of the operator to have the round objectroll into one specified compartment. The primary object of my inventionis to test the skill and patience of the operator, the object lie playswith being returned to him if he shows suflicient skill; but it isretained by the device if he lacks patience and ability. i A furtherobject of my invention is to provide a device which may be coupled toautomatic apparatus which issues, as an incentive for the player, otherobjects, if he is skillful,`

or which retains the deposit if he fails.

Another object of my invention is to provide a savings bank forchildren, entailing., fun and play in connection with the deposit` ingof a coin in the savings bank and offering harmless means to solicitdeposits from grown-ups. Briefly described, my invention comprises agame of skill in which the player by striking a plunger, may `rollablypropel a disc, or ball, or other suitable rolling object, along a runwayat a specified speed or with a .specified force,'to a specified pointthereon, at which a receiving open compartment is located, into whichthe rolling objectv drops from the runway, and through which compartmentthe object will be automaticalf ly returned to the player. If the forceused is greater or less than that .required to cause.

the object to roll into the open compartment from which it will bereturned to the player, it will drop from the runway into one or an- 4gother of a series of closed compartments, separated from the opencompartments, and from which closed compartments itwill not beautomatically returned to the player, but can be recovered therefromlonly by access to said closed compartments through a normal# ly lockeddoor forming part of the enclosingv n v y must be very sensitive to-respond to the walls of said closed compartments.

Further objects of. my device will ybecome evident by the perusal of thefollowingde-Y scription of one form of execution of my invention, whichis illustrated'in the accompanying drawings, in which:

igure 1 is a partly bi-sected side elevation of the device. C i

Figure 2 shows the corresponding right hand end of said view, which totheright, B, shows the end view and to the left, A, a sectional view. Yl

Figure 3 is a .top view of my device showing the parts on the insidethrough the glass cover on top. Figure 4 is a side View ofanvalternative part. y y v Similar numeralsl refer to similar partsthroughout, the various views.

Myl invention lis essentially contained in the in'closure 4, the sidesof which arebent on the top to form t'roughs', into which slides from.one end4 theglass cover 6 against the wall 7 on the front of theapparatus. There s are ears `8 on the top of the sides, in the back,which are connectedby adrod 9. Onto this rod is hinged the door 10,which serves to close the back of theinclosure 4. There is a ridge 11 onthe inside of the boX, which serves asa stop for the door when it isclosed and over which snaps the lock 12, forming part of said door. Thelock is operated'by a key which fits the key-hole 13.A l

To the right end of the inclosure is attached the pocket 14, which hasan opening 1501i the top, through which is inserted the round obcenter.-A collar 21 on the plunger is ten- .sioned against the bottom of thehollow hub by compression'spring 22. That spring V22 slightest variationin the touch of the Oper-v ator. To bring Athis about inorereadily, Iuse the bracket 39 shown in Figure 4, Vwhich takes the place of thehollow hub 18 of the other views. In a slot on that hub is mounted thelever fulcrumed at 41 in that bracket. The end 42, of the longer arm ofthat lever, tensionally rests against shoulder 21, that tension beingbrought about by a tension spring 43, extending between the short arm 44of the lever and the lower end of the bracket" 39.

In approximate alignment with the bottom of the pocket is mounted, onthe inside of the inclosure, the straight edge 23. One of .its ends isfastened to the front wall ofthe inclosure, the other end passes over,and isa-ttached to, the wall 24 extending across the inclosure. Thestraight edge 23 is a. runway onto which the rolling objects by whichthe game is operated are rollably ejected directly .from a retainingpocket, and upon which they roll until they drop therefrom, either atthe sides or end thereof, and fall .into one .n or -another of thecompartments vprovided in the box. This runway is purposely constructedwith its surface, ends, and side edges entirely free offfianges orchannels .intended to guide 'the rolling obj ect in its travel along therunway. Its surface, ends and side edges being thus entirelyunobstructed, vthe object rolling on the runway will either roll tothefree end thereof, and drop therefrom, or will drop from eitherside-'edge of the runway, before it has reached the runway end. Wall 24and a similar wall 25connectat their flower vedge byan inclined bottompiece 26,thus forming a chute, the lower end of which opens through theopening 27 inthe side wall p of the inclosure. Y

The trap door 28 is hinged onto a rod 29 extending between the sides ofthe inclosure. When in horizontal positionit closes the space formed bythe sides of the inclosure, the wall 25 and the door 10. A very lightspring 30,

v coiled up -on the shaft 29, its .freeendextending'below trap door 28,lightly tensions that trap door upwards, the upper edge fof .the doorservingA as a stop forthe trap'door against the wall 25, when the dooris in a horizontal position. In other words, the door will swingdownward when the slightest pressure is exerted upon it, but it cannotswing above the rhorizontal level. A y

Two other trap doors, 31 and .32 are hinged. upon rods 33, connectingthe front wall 0f` the inclosure to the wall 24.v By gravity theynormally rest, in an angular position, upon the pins 34 on the frontwall of the inclosure and on the wall 24, leaving a slight openingbetween their free ends, which serves as ay passage between the upperpart 0f `the 1nclosure and the part below these trap doors.

= fBu-t when the inclosure is turned Vup-sidedown, the, trap doors willfall into a horizontal position, their ends meet, resting upon fthelower end of edge 23 which is fastened .to

the wall; they are also stopped from moving further, since their edges35 strike the sides,

v.havethe shape of a ball, in which ,latter case,

offcourse,fthe pocket openings will have to be shaped accordingly.llVhen the round object or disc 16 is inserted through the openin 15 jon'top of my device, it rests in the poc ret, against the end of plunger19. If I push the knob 2O on plunger 19 inward, the disc is pushed outof the pocket, through opening '17, into the inclosure, onto edge 23. Ifthe momentum imparted tothe disc .is sufficiently large, it will rollalongthe full length of the ledge and, along path 36, will drop intothechute and come out of the box from opening -27. Butif the movementimparted tothe disc was vnot su'liicient; or was too great, .the discwill drop off the edge, on the side, following .path .37, or it willjump across the chute,

f-ollowingpath 38and landon trap door 28. Ifthecoin followsthepath 37 itwill drop down tothe bottom of the inclosure throughl fthe-openingbetween trap doors 31 and 132.

If thee-0in has fallen ontothe trap do-or 28, its weight willpushthatdoor downward and after thecoin has slipped Off thetop of the trapdoor 28 into thespace 4of the inclosnre below, the tension .of spring 30will return jthe'trap door 28 into yits normal, horizontal position.

It 2is readily seen that the discs lying on .the bottom of the inclosurecannot be removed,.except by .the opening of the door 10 which is closedby lock 12. If the operator `tries to.re1nove discs from .the bottom-ofthe inclosure Vby turning the whole device upside-down, the trap doors31 and 32 which .then fall into a horizontal position, lbottom 26 4ofthe chuteV `and the trap ydoor 28 in the rear: compartment will preventany disc from passingback into the space above.

receivingpocket, themeans of removing the vround .object from thereceiving pocket, the

inclosure, the straight edge, the chute, and the various trap doorssuggest themselves. They are known `to those acquainted with the Varts.involved in the construction of my device, and they .may be adoptedaccording to .the use to which YI want Yto put my invention.

.So for instance, trap doors 31 and 32 may be solid partitions, mountedin the position" from the space below these partitions intothespaceabove. The'door maybe on any of the three sides, or on thebottom of the 1n- Many `.variations in the construction of the" closure.The protection I desire to` obtain Y is therefore.not limited to theprecise design;

shown, but it includes any devices involving the principles or" myimprovements outlined in the following claims:

l. ln a game of skillv operated by rolling objects, the combination of aclosed box, an open compartment and a plurality of separated closedcompartments within said box, an unobstructed runway extending from theend of said box, and spanning lengthwise the top of some of said closedcompartments, said open compartment being arranged at one end of saidrunway,- an outlet in said open compartments discharging to the outsideof j said-box, an opening in said box at the end of said runway adjacentsaid box end to accommodate the passage of said rolling objectstherethrough, and spring restrained pressure actuated means, to rollablyimpel said rolling objects through said last mentioned opening and alongsaid runway and into any of said compartments.

2. In agame of skill operated by rolling objects, the combination of aclosed box, an open compartment and a plurality of separated closedcompartments within said box, an unobstructed runway extending from theend Aof said box, and spanning spanning lengthwise the top of some ofsaid closed compartments, said open compartment being arranged at oneend of said runway, an outlet in said open compartment discharging tothe outside of said box, a pocket on said box to receive said rollingobjects, an opening in said box connecting the end or" said i. runwayadjacent said box. end with said pocket, and means in' said pocket torollably eject said objects from said pocket through said connectingopening, and ,rollablyimpel them along said runway into any of saidcompartments.

3. In a game orP skill operated by rolling objects, the combination of aclosed box, an open compartment and a plurality of separated closedcompartments within said box, a narrow unobstructed runway extending-from the end of said box, and spanning lengthwise the top of some ofsaid closetv compartments, said open compartment being arranged at oneend of said runway, an outlet in said open compartment discharging tothe outside of said box, a chute in said open compartment connected tosaid outlet, a pocket on said box adjacent the end of said runwayadjacent said box end to receive said rolling objects, an opening insaid box connecting said end of said runway adjacent said box with saidpocket, and means in said -Y pocket to rollably eject said objects fromsaid pocket through said connecting opening andY rollably impel themalong said runway into any of said compartments.

4. In a game of skill operated by rolling objects, the combination of aclosed box, an open compartment and a plurality of separated closedcompartments within said box,

means within said box to connect said closed compartments, a narrowunobstructed run-Y way extending rom the end or" said box, and spanninglengthwise the top oi' some oi said closed compartments, said opencompartment box face with said pocket;.and means in said l pocket toreliably eject said objects from said pocket through said connectingopening and rollably impelthem along said runway into any of saidcompartments.

5. In a game .of skill operated by rolling objects, the combination of aclosed box having a transparent top, an open compartment and a pluralityot separated closed compartments within said box, an unobstructed runwayextending from the end of Said box, and

spanning lengthwise the top of some .of said closed compartments, saidvopen compartment being arranged at one end of said runway, shuttersproviding a closure for the top of said compartments spanned vby saidrunway, an outlet in said. kopen compartment discharging to the outsideofsaid box, apocket on said box to receive said rolling objects, anopening in said box connectingfthe end of said runway adjacent said boxend with said pocket, and spring restrained pressure actuated means inVsaid pocket to rollably eject said objects from said pocket throughsaid connecting lopening and rollably impel them along said runway intoany of said coinpartments.

6. In a game of skill operated by rollingy objects, the combination of aclosed box having a transparent top, kan open compartment and aplurality of separated closed` compartments within said box, anunobstructed runway extending rom the endof said box, and spanninglengthwiseV the top of some of said closed compartments, said opencoinpartment, being arranged at one end of said runway and other or"said closed compartments not spanned bysaid runway being arrangedadjacent -but beyond said openk compartment, normally open gravityoperated shutters providing a closure for the top of said compartment-sspanned by said runway, normally closed weight operated shuttersproviding a closure for said closed compartments not spanned by lsaidrunway, an outlet in said open compartment discharging to the outsideoic said box, a pocket on said box to receive said rolling objects, anopening in Vsaid box connecting the lend of said runway adjacent saidbox end with said pocket, spring restrained pressure actuated means insaid ypocket to rollably eject said objects from said pocket throughsaid connecting opening and rollably impel them along said runway intoany of said compartments, and a door in said box providing access to allof said closed compartments. f

7. In a game or skill operated by rolling objects, the combination of' aclosed box, an

` partment, lids normally closing the top of the latter mentioned closedcompartments, an opening in the top of said closed compartments spannedby said runway, an outlet in said open compartments ldischarging to theoutside off said box, a pocket on said box to receive said rollingobjects, an opening in said-box connecting the end of said runwayadjacent said box end with said pocket, springrestrained pressureactuated means in said Vpocket to rollably eject said objects from saidpocket through said connecting opening vand rollabl impel them alonosaid runwa a L C7 i into any of said compartments.

, 8. In a game of skill operated by rolling objects, the combination ofa closed box, an open compartment and a plurality of separated closedcompartments'within said box, an unobstructed'runway extending from theend of saidbox, and spanning lengthwise the top of some of said closedcompartments, said open compartment being arranged at one end of saidrunway and not spanned thereby and other of said closed compartments notspanned by said runway being arrangedv adacent said open compartment butseparated thereby from said spanned closed compartments, an outlet insaid open compartment discharging to the outside of said box, a chute insaid open compartment connected to said outlet, a pocket-on said box toreceive said rolling objects, an opening in said poc ret for introducingsaid objects into said pocket, a bottom in said poclet slantingdownwardly it recedes from said box, an opening in said box connectingthe end of said runway adjacent saidtbox end with said pocket andadapted to permit the passage of said objects therethrough, and a.spring restrained presi sure actuated plunger in said pocket arranged torollably eject said objects from said pocket through said connectingopening and rollably impel them along said runway into anyoif saidcompartments.

9. In a game of'skill operated by rolling objects, the combination of aclosed box', an open compartment and a plurality of sepa- -ratedciosedcompartments arranged lengthwise of and within said box in alternateorder, one of said closed compartments being positioned at one end ofsaid box, va narrow unobstructed runway spanning lengthwise the top ofsaid closed compartment and extending rom said end of said box to butterminating at said adjacent open compartment, an outlet in said opencompartment discharging to the-outside of said box, an opening in saidvbox at the end of said runway adjacent said box end adapted toaccommodate the passage of said` rolling objects therethrough, andspring restrained pressure actuated means to rollably impel said rollingobjects through said last mentioned opening and along said runway and`into any of said compartments. v

l0. In a game of skill operated by rolling objects, the combination of aclosed box, an open compartment and a plurality of sepaated closedcompartments arranged lengthwise ot and within said box in alternateorder, one of said closed compartments being positioned at one end otsaid box, another of said closed compartments being positioned attheopposite end of said box, said open compartment being positioned betweenthe opposite ends of said closed compartments and adjacent the end ofsaid first mentioned closed compartment, a narrow unobstructed runwayspanning lengthwise the top of said irstmentioned closed compartment andextending trom said endof said box adjacent said closed compartment tobut terminating at said adj acent open compartment, an outlet in saidopen compartment discharging to the'outside of said box, an opening insaid box at the end oi' the said runway adjacent said boxend adapted toaccommodate the passage of said rolling objects therethrough, and springrestrained pressure actuated means to rollably impel said rollingobjects through said last mentioned opening and along said runway andinto any of said compartments. Signed at Hartford in the county ofHartford and State of Connecticut -this 14th day of September A. D.1928.

J LOUIS MAASS.4

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